Will Be Released In Three Stages

Tesla is preparing to roll out an updated version of its "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) driver-assistance system, CEO Elon Musk announced on his X social media network September 25. Responding to a question from another X user, Musk posted that FSD version 14.0 "goes into early wide release next week" followed by additional 14.1 and 14.2 updates starting about two weeks after that.

Musk didn't explain what features or changes would be included in each release, but crowed that "the car will feel almost like it is [a] sentient being by 14.2." The staged release could see the new software rolled out to Tesla insiders and influencers first, with version 14.2 being a wider release by which time Tesla will have had an opportunity to address any bugs that its hardcore fans are more likely to accept.

What New Features Will It Bring?

Tesla

Musk's use of the term "early wide release" indicates that the latest FSD software might not be available to all customers at once, according to Not A Tesla App, which noted that the previous two releases were initially limited to certain early-access groups and influencers. Less-special owners didn't receive the updates for versions 12 and 13 of FSD until the 12.2 and 13.2 releases, respectively, the website said.

As for capabilities, Not A Tesla App points to previous comments by Musk that Tesla was working on a new AI model, a way to reduce video compression to increase the car's ability to process images from its onboard cameras, and potential reductions in driver monitoring. Tesla just loosened the rules for inattentive drivers that suspend access to FSD, so the latter would fit that pattern. Whether that's a good idea is another matter.

Backlash Against Self-Driving Hype

Tesla

Musk has long touted both FSD and the related Autopilot system as the foundation of autonomous driving, but neither system offers that capability today. After a series of crashes involving these systems, Tesla now faces legal pressure over its past claims about the level of automation they offer. The automaker now faces a class-action lawsuit over self-driving claims, and earlier this year a federal jury ruled the automaker partly liable for a fatal crash involving the Autopilot system.